Charging system

Abstract

To avoid problems such as damage caused by dragging the charging cable or the charging cable getting tangled. [Solution] The charging system 1 comprises a high-frequency power supply 3, a contactless power supply device 4 that transmits high-frequency power supplied from the high-frequency power supply 3 from a transmitting coil to a receiving coil without contact, a power supply connector to which power is supplied from the contactless power supply device 4, and a self-propelled charging robot 2 that automatically inserts and removes the power supply connector into the charging port of the vehicle 6. The transmitting coil is a Litz cable 11, the receiving coil 12 is movable to different positions on the Litz cable 11, and the power supply connector is movable within a predetermined range along the Litz cable 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a charging system including a charging device to which a charging cable having a charging plug is connected, and a charging robot having an arm mechanism for automatically inserting and removing the charging plug into and from a charging port of a vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the charging device is fixed to the ground of the parking lot, the number of vehicles that can be charged by one charging device is limited due to the limitation of the length of the charging cable. Therefore, it is conceivable to expand the target range so that many vehicles can be charged by one charging device. However, if the charging plug reaches a vehicle parked at a position far from the charging device, the charging cable will become too long. If the charging cable is made too long, problems such as damage caused by dragging the charging cable and entanglement of the charging cable are likely to occur.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a charging system capable of avoiding troubles such as damage caused by dragging the charging cable and entanglement of the charging cable.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The charging system according to the present invention comprises a high-frequency power supply, a contactless power supply device that transmits high-frequency power supplied from the high-frequency power supply from a power transmission coil to a power receiving coil without contact, a power supply connector to which power from the high-frequency power supply is supplied via the contactless power supply device, and a self-propelled charging robot that automatically inserts and removes the power supply connector into the charging port of a vehicle, wherein the power transmission coil is a Litz cable made of Litz wire through which high-frequency current from the high-frequency power supply flows, extends into a parking area where the vehicle is parked, the power receiving coil is movable relative to the Litz cable to different positions on the Litz cable in the direction of extension of the Litz cable, and receives power transmitted contactlessly from the Litz cable at each position on the Litz cable, and the power supply connector is movable within a predetermined range along the Litz cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This invention makes it possible to avoid problems such as damage caused by dragging the charging cable or the charging cable becoming tangled. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the charging system in an embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the circuit configuration of a fast charger in a charging system. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing a contactless power supply device. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the case of charging multiple vehicles. [Figure 5] This diagram schematically shows the charging system in a modified example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The charging system in the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a charging system in an embodiment. The charging system 1 comprises a charging robot 2, a high-frequency power supply 3, a contactless power supply device 4, and a DC-DC converter 5.

[0011] Charging System 1 is a system in which a self-propelled charging robot 2 automatically moves to a parking space such as a parking lot, connects a power supply connector to the vehicle 6, and automatically charges the vehicle 6. The power supply connector is included in Charging System 1. By using a contactless power supply device 4, Charging System 1 makes it easy to move the power supply connector, and the charging robot 2 can automatically charge multiple vehicles 6 while moving.

[0012] The charging robot 2 is a self-propelled robot that inserts and removes a power supply connector from the charging port of the vehicle 6. The charging robot 2 moves automatically. The charging robot 2 has an arm mechanism that automatically inserts and removes the power supply connector from the charging port of the vehicle 6. The charging robot 2 can move autonomously while gripping the power supply connector with a gripping part provided at the tip of the arm mechanism, and can also insert and remove the power supply connector from the charging port of the vehicle 6.

[0013] The power supply connector is a connector provided on the rapid charger 10 of the charging system 1. The rapid charger 10 consists of a high-frequency power supply 3, a contactless power supply device 4, and a DC-DC converter 5.

[0014] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rapid charger 10 supplies high-frequency power from the high-frequency power supply 3 to the contactless power supply device 4, and the contactless power supply device 4 provides insulation.

[0015] The high-frequency power supply 3 supplies high-frequency power to the contactless power supply device 4. The high-frequency power supply 3 is the power supply unit for the charging system 1. The power supply unit for the charging system 1 is installed in a parking lot or similar location. For example, the high-frequency power supply 3 is permanently installed in the parking lot.

[0016] The contactless power supply device 4 transmits high-frequency power supplied from the high-frequency power supply 3 from the transmitting coil to the receiving coil without contact. The contactless power supply device 4 comprises a Litz cable 11 as the transmitting coil and a receiving coil 12. The Litz cable 11 is electrically connected to the high-frequency power supply 3. High-frequency power from the high-frequency power supply 3 is supplied to the Litz cable 11. The receiving coil 12 receives the power transmitted contactlessly from the Litz cable 11. The charging system 1 is a system that supplies high-frequency current to the Litz cable 11 and receives power contactlessly via the receiving coil 12. The receiving coil 12 is electrically connected to the DC-DC converter 5.

[0017] The Litz cable 11 is composed of Litz wire through which high-frequency current from the high-frequency power supply 3 flows. Litz wire is a wire made by twisting together multiple strands of wire. The Litz cable 11 functions as a primary coil that transmits power supplied from the high-frequency power supply 3 in a contactless manner. As shown in Figure 1, the Litz cable 11 extends into the parking area where the vehicle 6 is parked. The Litz cable 11 is installed on the ground. For example, the Litz cable 11 is installed on the ceiling or walls of the parking lot.

[0018] The power receiving coil 12 is movable relative to the Litz cable 11 to different locations on the Litz cable 11 in the direction of the Litz cable's extension. The power receiving coil 12 is a secondary coil that receives power transmitted non-contactually from the Litz cable 11 at various locations on the Litz cable 11. The power receiving coil 12 can receive power regardless of where it is installed on the Litz cable 11.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the power receiving coil 12 is wound around the power receiving core 13. The power receiving core 13 is disposed on the litz cable 11. For example, the power receiving core 13 is formed in a C shape. When a high-frequency current flows through the litz cable 11, a magnetic field is generated around the litz cable 11. Since the litz cable 11 extends linearly, the high-frequency current flowing through the litz cable 11 is a linear current. Therefore, an annular magnetic field is generated around the litz cable 11 around the linear current, and the direction of the magnetic field is clockwise in the direction in which the high-frequency current flows. The power receiving core 13 is formed in a shape along the direction of the magnetic field generated around the litz cable 11.

[0020] The DC-DC converter 5 converts the power received by the power receiving coil 12 into a predetermined power and outputs it to the power supply connector. The DC-DC converter 5 converts and outputs the power so as to be a power suitable for rapidly charging the vehicle 6. The DC-DC converter 5 is provided between the power receiving coil 12 and the power supply connector and is configured to be movable in the same manner as the power receiving coil 12. When the power supply connector moves as the charging robot 2 moves automatically, the DC-DC converter 5 moves along with the movement of the power supply connector.

[0021] The power supply connector is electrically connected to the power receiving coil 12 via the DC-DC converter 5. When the power supply connector is connected to the charging port of the vehicle 6, the power supply connector outputs the power supplied from the DC-DC converter 5 to the vehicle 6.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, in the charging system 1, the charging robot 2 moves and inserts and removes the charging connector with respect to the vehicle 6 parked in the parking area. When the power supply connector moves as the charging robot 2 moves automatically, the power receiving coil 12 and the DC-DC converter 5 move together with the power supply connector.

[0023] In the example shown in Figure 4, the target area includes a parking area containing parking spaces A, B, C, and D. In this parking lot, the Litz cable 11 extends near parking spaces A, B, C, and D. Of the multiple parking spaces, parking space A is located closest to the high-frequency power supply 3, and parking spaces B, C, and D are located in that order, further away from the high-frequency power supply 3. Of the multiple parking spaces, parking space D is the furthest from the high-frequency power supply 3.

[0024] The charging robot 2 can automatically charge a vehicle 6 parked in parking space A and then move to parking space B. In this case, the receiving coil 12 and DC-DC converter 5 move from the position corresponding to parking space A to the position corresponding to parking space B as the charging robot 2 moves. Similarly, the charging robot 2 can automatically charge a vehicle 6 parked in parking space B and then move to parking space C. In this case, the receiving coil 12 and DC-DC converter 5 move from the position corresponding to parking space B to the position corresponding to parking space C as the charging robot 2 moves. In the charging system 1, even if the distance from the high-frequency power supply 3 fixed in the parking lot to the power supply target changes, the receiving coil 12 moves along the Litz cable 11, allowing the power supply connector to move along the Litz cable 11.

[0025] As described above, according to the embodiment, by using a charging system 1 that includes a power receiving coil 12 and a DC-DC converter 5, it is possible to avoid problems such as damage to the charging cable from being dragged or the charging cable becoming tangled.

[0026] Furthermore, the charging system 1 is not limited to a structure in which the charging robot 2 grasps the power supply connector; it may also be a structure in which the power supply connector is fixed to the charging robot 2. In other words, the power supply connector may be included in the charging robot 2. For example, the charging robot 2 may have a structure in which the power supply connector is fixed to the tip of the arm mechanism.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the charging system 1 may be configured to bury the Litz cable 11 underground and draw power from near the location where the vehicle 6 is parked. The charging robot 2 can move to the parking position of the vehicle 6 and attach the power receiving coil 12 to the Litz cable 11. This eliminates interference between the Litz cable 11 and the vehicle 6's movement path, enabling automatic charging over a wide area. The charging system 1 configured in this way achieves cableless operation by utilizing contactless power supply technology. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0028] 1 Charging System 2 Rechargeable Robots 3 High frequency power supply 4. Contactless power supply device 5 DC-DC converters 6 vehicles 11 Litz Cable 12 Power receiving coil 13 Power receiving core

Claims

1. High-frequency power supply and A contactless power supply device that transmits high-frequency power supplied from the aforementioned high-frequency power supply from a transmitting coil to a receiving coil without contact, A power supply connector to which power from the aforementioned high-frequency power supply is supplied via the aforementioned contactless power supply device, A self-propelled charging robot that automatically inserts and removes the aforementioned power supply connector into the vehicle's charging port, Equipped with, The power transmission coil is a Litz cable made of Litz wire through which high-frequency current from the high-frequency power supply flows, and extends into the parking area where the vehicle is parked. The power receiving coil is movable relative to the Litz cable to different positions on the Litz cable in the direction of extension of the Litz cable, and receives power transmitted non-contact from the Litz cable at each position on the Litz cable. The power supply connector is movable within a predetermined range along the Litz cable. A charging system characterized by the following features.

2. When the power supply connector moves as the charging robot moves on its own, the power receiving coil moves along the Litz cable in accordance with the movement of the power supply connector. The charging system according to claim 1.

3. The system further comprises a DC-DC converter provided between the power supply connector and the power receiving coil, The power supply connector is electrically connected to the power receiving coil via the DC-DC converter. When the power supply connector moves as the charging robot moves on its own, the DC-DC converter moves in conjunction with the movement of the power supply connector. The charging system according to claim 2, characterized in that it is as described above.

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